Of the many reasons to admire AMC as a network, at least without knowing the inevitably ugly inner-workings of the company, their ability to build epic action-adventure narratives that don’t skimp on the emotions deserves top billing. For all the inarguably problematic and often beguiling creative choices that have befallenThe Walking Deadin the last two seasons, the groundbreaking horror series remains a prime example of how to build a substantial, rewarding, and unpredictable drama to last.Fear the Walking Deadhas gone from an intermittently interesting spin-off to a show with its own personality and dramatic entanglements that avoid the overtly familiar. And though I wasn’t personally a fan, there are plenty of people who would tell you thatHell on Wheelswas of a similar breed. Mind you, that’s not even bringing up the network’s legacy of putting outMad Men,Breaking Bad, andBetter Call Saul, three of the best TV shows of this decade.
Not unlikeHell on Wheels,Into the Badlandshas also been following a similar trajectory for an admittedly smaller audience thanThe Walking Deador evenFear the Walking Dead. The fantastical action-adventure, which starsDaniel WuandNick Frost, is getting ready for the bow of its third season on Sunday, April 22nd and debuted the first full trailer for the new season at this weekend’s WonderCon; you can watch the trailer below. What began as a visually bland though engagingly written adventure series has become far more riveting in its imagery and a much more intricate story of honor and regret, for better and for worse. Considering the year in TV has been relatively mediocre thus far, with the notable exceptions ofAtlanta Robbin' Season,High Maintenance,The Chi, andLast Week Tonight with John Oliver, the third season of the show brings hope that there might be a viable alternative to the strange, untethered world ofThe Walking Deadon AMC. At the very least, this particular end-times realm seems to have a better wardrobe than the zombie apocalypse.
Here’s the first full trailer forInto the BadlandsSeason 3:
